St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-09-16
Eighteenth Annual Anniver-
sary of the Second Mime
sofa Volunteer Infantry.
A New Constitution Adopted
and officers Elected for
the Coming Year.
Eloquent Words by the Son
Of the Old Colonel Of
the Regiment.
Roster of the Regiment
"reminiscences Revived
Around the Camp Fire.

Since 1870 the veterans of the old Min
heSota Second volunteer infantry have
met together year after year, and yes
terday they came together again to cele-
brate their eighteenth annual reunion.
Gen. j. W. Bishop, us usual, presided,
and called the veterans together at p.
N. in the basement of the chamber of
commerce building. A camp fire had
been enjoyed informally during the fore
noon, but the afternoon meeting was de-
voted to business almost altogether. save
the patriotic address of the occasion,
and some few appropriate speeches.
There was the customary roll call, and
as each soldier came forward, Gen.
Bishop presented him with printed
copy of the official records of the regi-
ment. the compiling of which is due to
the pains Of Gen. Bishop. This pamphlet
contains accounts, reports and muSterS
pertaining 10 the part the Second took
in the battles of Mill Springs, Chicka-
manga and Mission Ridge. tits singular
that in the muSter-out of the commits,
stoned officers. July, 1868. appeared the
names of only three of the original
officers.
The following letter to Gen. Bishop
from Mai Gen. W. S. RoSencrans. eX-
member of congress from California,
and present register of the United
States treasury was read:
DEAR CoNRADE: | remember the Second
Minnesota very well, and am witness to its
gallantry. patriotism and courage. / have
good reason 10 remember il gratefully Please
present my best wishes to the assembled
comrades and tell them that If duty permitted
| should enjoy nothing better than to be AT
St Paul AT the reunion on the 18th inst. The
pamphlet record of the regiment has come to
hand and reVlveS many lively memories of
the Seconds fighting and staying qualities.
Ny WarmeSt good wishes to each cOmrade of
the regiment. Very truly yours,
". :. ROSENCEANS.
Letters from Gen. II. 2. Van Cleve.
of Minneapolis, and war correspondent
ii. V. BoyntOn, and kilograms from
Col. f. Van DerVeer. commander of the
brigade. and Capt. Z. \. Otis were also
read
y new constitution and bylaws were
adopted yesterday. The officers elected
for the ensuing year are: President,
J. W. Bishop, st. Paul; vice president,
Capt. George Shuman, of Minneapolis;
secretary, Capt. \. II. Kiefer. St. Paul:
treasurer. John Gibbons. St.Paul. Capt.
\. II. Reed, of Glencoe. was selected to
deliver the annual address at the next
reunion. which is to occur during fair
week of 1SsS. but the exact date OF which
j left with the president and secretary.
Resolutions in memory of the late
James Brennan. of Company +, and
James II. Spencer, of Company L, and
of sympathy with their relatives and
friends, were adopted on the report of
committee consisting of Capt. Joseph
Burger. of St. Paul. E. E. Corliss, of
Fergus Falls. and Benjamin f. Cole. of
Minneapolis. \ committee consisting
of Capt. Reed. of Glencoe, Capt. Dona-
hover of ST. Peter. Capt. Over. of Chat
field. J. J. Cassiday and G. w. Root was
appointed to provide a suitable head
stone for the grave. in the cemetery at
Rochester. of the commanding officer of
the regiment. Col. James George who
died five years ago.
THE ANNUAL ADDRESS.
Gen. Bishop then called upon Edward
George, a Well-knOwn young attorney of
CrookSt0n. and the son of the late Col.
James George. commander of the regi-
ment. for the speech OF the occasion.
who delivered the following brief pa
triotic address and was heartily APP
plauded:
Veterans of the Second Minnesota Volun-
teer infantry: Perhaps there is no grander
spectacle. no sight better calculated to
awaken admiration and perpetuate FEELINGS
of loyal patriotism than that which is pre-
scented by the reunion of our veteran SOL
diers. Under the same sun. under the same
blue canopy, under the same emblem of free
dom they assemble annually all over our
broad land. each evolving the same ideas,
each thinking the same thoughts, each en-
gagged aS are to-day with memories of the
same great event. No political band, no sec
tional bar no sectional barrier, no creed, no
color no condition intervenes to prohibit
the union veteran from grasping the hand
of his comrade in unanimity and friendship.
They assemble as Il harmonious whole, and
as a unit meet on the broad platform of fra
ternity and featy. Nor does it excite our
wonder when we consider the relation that
the soldier sustains to his comrade and his
country. in no phase of life does true man
hood stand out i'll as bold relief, and who but
the soldier can feel that the DESTINY of the
country is in his hands: Where does the true
spirit shine as on the dreary march the
dreary bivouac and the ACCOMPLISHMENTS
where is grander sight than that which
the soldier sees i'll the smiles of a grateful
country:
Veterans. little over century ago there
was entrusted to your keeping by your fore
fathers this land. now so famed in history
and song. They had wrenched it from the
hand of the tryant. and by their valor had
freed themselves from the letters of bond
age. and when they placed it III your hands
they said: My children, this is your heri-
tage. It's principles are: Eternal enmity to
All tyranny over The MINUS Oh men. tNat all
men are created equal and endowed by the
Creator with certain inalienable rights that
together you stand. divided you fall and
well has the trust reposed in you been dis
charged. for, save occasional mutteringS of
dissensiOn nothing occurred to interrupt the
continued peace and prosperity until April,
1861. when the black cloud of treason spread
like deadly miaSma over the face of our
country, and you saw the harbinger of disso-
luton floating i'll the air and heard it in the
passing breeze.
But the storm has passed; it has spent its
fury, and on the rainbow that has succeeded
ii you behold your birthright intact, your flag
sustained and your Union undivided. Real
iZing this as You do. is it strange that your
minds should revert to those scenes of q
quarter of IL century ago which have so indiS-
solubly bound you together, and that you
forget the present and live in the past when
YOU meet your comrades to-day? Once again
you are standing in the early morn or the
great national conflict You behold every
where those unmistakable signs of the pend
ing crisis: you see the stormy petrol of war
lowering over your flag; once again you hear
the call of your country for aid; once again
you are parting with the loved ones at home
and severing those. ties so near and dear.
Full well do those left behind know that they
may never again see those manly forms, and
full well do all know that none can tell
where the shaft of death may strike We fol-
low you through the long and bloody contest
we see you at Mill Springs. Corinth, Perry
vile, Chicamauga, Mission Ridge, Resaca
and Kenesaw, and when the confederate
forces have finally succumbed and the prin-
ciples of our Union have triumphed, we see
you returning to your homes, but how I'M
like the proud array that went forth
Though triumphant how -mournful; how
sADDENED YOUR HEARTS
by that experience the soldier alone can feel
Slowly and sadly you return to your homes,
and we hear the voices:
us my brother here?"
HE was with us when we made the charge
at Mill Springs, but have not seen him
since.'
.'When viii my father come homeg"
''Silent and alone laid your father to rest
L. L.. L. lnl,..